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His Final Game Will Be A Snap

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By SCOTT CARTER, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 29, 2007

Updated: 12/28/2007 11:57 pm

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - In those early days, shortly after Garrison Sanborn started playing in the Tampa Bay Youth League, his mom would take her only boy and a few pillows out to the yard for practice.

Kay Sanborn gripped the pillows and charged toward the boy, challenging Garrison to block her. Sometimes she would try to block him. They repeated the exercises over and over, developing a love affair with the game and strengthening a mother-son relationship at the same time.

"We did what we had to do," Kay said. "He was a little fella back then. We really enjoy our football. We are going to miss it."

On New Year's Eve, Kay and Russell Sanborn, like they have for nearly every FSU game the past five years, will be at LP Field, watching Florida State play Kentucky in the Music City Bowl. For much of the afternoon, they'll have their eyes locked on FSU's No. 65, that same little boy Kay used to challenge at practice.

Garrison, a former walk-on who has developed into one of the nation's top long snappers during the past five years, will play his final game for the Noles. He knows it could be his final game ever. If so, the fifth-year senior won't soon forget it.

With nine regular contributors on defense suspended for their involvement in an academic cheating scandal - including five defensive linemen - Sanborn has been working at defensive end in practice in case starters Alex Boston and Everette Brown need a break Monday.

"I haven't done anything like that in five years," said Sanborn, who last played defense during his junior season at Jesuit. "It's been a quick change. At first, my hands were off, my feet were off, and I couldn't do anything. It's a lot different from what I've been doing."

In less than two weeks of practice time, Sanborn has quickly adjusted to gain the trust of defensive ends coach Jody Allen should the Noles need him on defense against a pass-happy Kentucky team led by quarterback Andre Woodson.

"He's a smart guy," Allen said. "He has picked up assignments and reads relatively quickly, and he's a pretty good athlete obviously, or he wouldn't be snapping and covering kicks for us. Coach Bowden is a little bit nervous about it because he doesn't want the long snapper to get hurt ... but he's done well."

At 6-foot-1, 232 pounds, Sanborn won't exactly strike fear into any of Kentucky's 300-pound offensive linemen. Still, he has ways to get the job done. After all, he is a triple-major who graduated two weeks ago with degrees in finance, real estate and management.

"Garrison has always been real ambitious," said Russell Sanborn, recalling how his son started to show interest in real estate and business as a teenager. At 22, Garrison already has invested in property and is focused on a career in business.

But first, he wants to gauge whether there is any NFL team interested in a long snapper who didn't make a bad snap all season.

"He is very motivated to do things," Kay said. "When he sets his mind on doing something, he'll use what resources he has to get the job done. He is definitely interested in seeing what he can pursue at the next level."

Whether his future is as a niche performer in the NFL or running his own company, Sanborn is determined to be a success. He will take that same approach into Monday's Music City Bowl, especially if he finds himself lined up against a Kentucky lineman who weighs 75 pounds more than he does.

Sanborn will just dig in, focus on the task at hand, and use all his resources to make a play. That's the only way he knows.

"When I got here, I was a lot lighter and slower," Sanborn said. "I've worked pretty hard and gotten myself to where I at least can contribute if they need me.

"I did everything I could."

Reporter Scott Carter can be reached at

(850) 294-3088 or scarter@tampatrib.com.

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